The ancient technology of nomadic
craftsmen ‘Biz keste’ is being revived by an artist from Almaty Zeinelkhan
Mukhamedzhan. Using the craft of the Great Steppe nomads, he uniquely creates
picturesque paintings with a crochet hook and colored threads. In his works, the
artist blends traditional ornament with graphic elements, reviving the history
of the Kazakh people. His paintings feature military leaders, battles for
freedom and tulpar horses flying across the vast steppe expanses. Over three
decades, Mukhamedzhan has woven more than a hundred unique works depicting Kultegin,
Tengri, Sayakhat, Tomiris and many others.
“Working on images takes a long time. Nurturing
an idea may take half a year, but creating a painting requires a month. I draw
inspiration from nature. It’s actually a very labor-intensive job, requiring
diligence and patience. I guess my rough masculine hands are meant for this
craft,” said Mukhamedzhan.
“Biz keste is also known as tambour embroidery.
Having learned it from his wife, he uses it in his works. It’s not
ordinary embroidery or decoration for yurts, but something modern and unique,” artist
Assel Abilkhai said.
Mukhamedzhan’s paintings executed in tambour
embroidery are stored in the funds of national museums in Kazakhstan as well as
in private collections in England, Israel, Russia, Mongolia and Cyprus. The
artist has become a guardian of Kazakh people’s traditions and a founder of a
new chapter in art history, experts note. He plans to pass on his knowledge and
experience to the younger generation and include all the accumulated
information in a large book titled ‘The Art of Kazakh Embroidery’.
